Around Here

Hello dear friends,

I don't know about you, but Summer is such a busy time of year for me, I seem to always have jobs to do. Usually it has something to do with fruit and veggie preservation.

The weather has cooled considerably, so life is so much more pleasant at the moment. It is starting to feel like Autumn, my favourite time of year. However having said that, we are expected to have another hot weekend coming.  Maybe one last burst of heat, one can hope anyway...

Where do I start? So much has happened since my last post.

My computer had been playing up, so hubby has given it a good going over and it seems to be running better now, thank goodness.

We foraged for free food along the sides of the road in the nearby hills.

There is fourteen kilo of peaches in this box.  The green ones we left in the box and covered with an old sheet so they could get some air. They ripened off nicely.

Ripening in the kitchen.

We made lots of jam.

And Cobblers...yum!

 We also picked almonds.

Some of these were green too but they are drying on the racks and taste really good!

 I picked some of our nectarines. The fruit was very small this year, but I did manage to stew and freeze some...

And make some jam.

I was gifted these figs by a friend and 

I made jam!

This is our jam cupboard now!

I gave a jar of our apricot jam for a birthday present.

Playing with Sourdough again.

Veggie pickings

I made some homemade all purpose cleaner,   

and posted about it here.

Just two ingredients!

Pretty.

 Hubby caught a crow.

He brought it to show me and take a photo before releasing it again. 

 Sleepy lizard.

And another!

Watch him climb the step...

The work continues on for the boys.

I made french sticks.

I needed them to make these for our church lunch.

 I tried a new recipe. 

Cinnamon, walnut tea cake. 

I didn't have walnuts so I used chopped almonds instead.

This is a very yummy cake!

A new favourite in this house.

Chocolate Beetroot brownies!

Quiche for lunch today.

 And Apple cobbler for dessert.

If you haven't tried fruit cobbler, you really should, it is so delicious!

And now for the best news of all!

Meet our newest family member, his name is Charlie.

He arrived ten days ago.

A big boy weighing 8lb 15oz!

With my mum (Great Nanna)

Great grand parents.

Big Brother with Mum and Dad.

Blowing kisses.

With me (Nan)

It has been a roller coaster ride, but he is finally here.

Lots of love and cuddles going on J

Wishing you all a blessed week.